Editor's note: With offseason work across the league coming to an end, the focus shifts to the steamy summer workouts ahead. The countdown to training camp has begun. To get you fully primed for the preseason and beyond, Sporting News provides in-depth looks at all 32 teams leading into camps. Today: Seattle Seahawks. Wednesday: Arizona Cardinals.

Expectations and uncertainty. Those are two things coach Pete Carroll is facing for the first time in his Seattle tenure.

The Seahawks are not rebuilding, they are rebuilt, and for the first time since Carroll arrived in 2010 there is a belief this team is ready to contend.

There is also a legitimate question at quarterback and an open competition for the starting job, something that was not true either of Carroll’s first two seasons in town. Most of August will be spent deciding whether free-agent addition Matt Flynn, rookie Russell Wilson or incumbent Tarvaris Jackson will start.

The quarterback is the missing piece for a team that has an established top-10 defense and returns Marshawn Lynch to lead what has become a punishing rushing offense.

After going 7-9 each of Carroll’s first two seasons in Seattle, anything less than a winning record will be considered a step back for this team after the improvement showed in the second half of last year, going 5-3.

What’s new: Offense

The quarterbacks, and that would be plural. Seattle signed Matt Flynn, considered the top unrestricted free agent available, and also drafted Wisconsin’s Russell Wilson in the third round with the No. 75 pick. It was the highest Seattle has selected a quarterback in more than 10 years.

Seattle also drafted running back Robert Turbin in the fourth round to serve as a complement to Lynch, who was re-signed but continues to have off-field issues. They added Kellen Winslow to serve as the second tight end, but what’s as significant as the additions is the number of changes that didn’t happen. This is the first time in four years the Seahawks did not change playbooks over the offseason.

What’s new: Defense

The Seahawks felt a need to add speed as evidenced by their first two draft choices. They made Bruce Irvin the first pick, seeing a pass-rush specialist who is tailor-made for their defense.

In the second round, Seattle grabbed Bobby Wagner, who will be plugged in at middle linebacker with the hope his speed will allow him to cover more ground.

The secondary is set as three of the four starters played in the Pro Bowl (safeties Earl Thomas and Kam Chancellor and cornerback Brandon Browner). Seattle is hoping the selection of Irvin and acquisition of defensive lineman Jason Jones help a pass rush that was decidedly mediocre a year ago.

Camp goals

1. Settle on a quarterback. The Seahawks' three-way competition is going to dominate training camp conversation. Carroll has given no timeline for a decision, and no specifics other than Jackson will get the first snap with the first unit at training camp. It’s possible Jackson, Flynn and Wilson each could get a start in an exhibition game.

2. Determine pass-rush pecking order. Chris Clemons had 11 sacks each of the past two seasons, one of eight players in the league to total double digits each year. But he skipped most of the offseason workouts as the team failed to reach an agreement with him on a contract extension. The Seahawks drafted Irvin to play in tandem with Clemons, but seeing who starts is suddenly a question.

3. Determine Wagner’s readiness at middle linebacker. He appears to be the first option to replace David Hawthorne. Some of the pressure will be eased by the fact K.J. Wright can call the defense from his strongside linebacker position, and the addition of Barrett Ruud provides some veteran insurance if Wagner isn’t ready, but the Seahawks expect the rookie to be up to the challenge.

Breakout player

Irvin was the first defensive end selected in the draft. Seattle's priority on defense was to add speed and improve the pass rush. At 248 pounds, Irvin is lighter than your prototypical NFL end, but he is custom-made to play the rush end in Seattle’s defense, which is referred to as the "Leo." His only two responsibilities from that position are to rush the passer or chase after the ball on running plays, and with Irvin’s speed and explosiveness, he shouldn’t struggle in either regard. Irvin has already predicted he will have a double-digit sack total as a rookie, which is ambitious but not out of the reach of possibility.

“He’s just what we thought he was," Carroll said. "He’s very, very fast. He’s very instinctive. I think now that we’ve had him in the meeting rooms and watched him learn and pick stuff up and ask questions and then be able to apply the stuff on the field, he’s going to be able to come in and help us immediately. That’s all you could probably hope for in your No. 1.”

Bottom line

The Seahawks went 5-3 over the second half of last season, and return all but one starter from a defense that ranked in the top 10 in the league. They should contend for a playoff spot if they get improved play at quarterback and could win 10 or 11 games. That’s a huge if, though, and the uncertainty at quarterback could undermine the season.

Prediction: Second, NFC West

Danny O'Neil covers the Seahawks for the Seattle Times and Sporting News.